“In the current challenging economic climate we have to focus our efforts on supporting EU growth and visa policy as a powerful tool to increase tourism flows to the EU,” according to a statement from the EU in announcing the policy on November 7. “This is why, together with Vice-President Antonio Tajani, we adopted today a communication on how visa policy can spur economic growth in the EU, accompanied by a report on Local Schengen cooperation and by a proposal to grant visa free travel to 16 island nations.”

Travelers from Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago are expected to benefit from this policy.

Other countries benefiting from that move are Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, and Timor Leste.

The move by the EU is to boost tourism arrivals to Europe which is being severely affected by the current economic climate and Dominicans will be able to travel for up to 90 days within member countries of the Schengen Area Agreement without having to show their passport when crossing borders.

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117 Comments

Good blog! I truly love how it is simple to browse.
I am wondering how I might be notified whenever a new post has been made.
I’ve subscribed to your RSS feed which must do! Have a great day and please excuse my poor english!

hey im from st.lucia and i’m visiting some friends in england. i want to go to france to visit a close friend but heres the thing i need to return to st.lucia to get a french visa then travel back to the france, i also have a friend in switzerland and i have to go to venezuella before to get a visa so the implimentation of this would be good and a bit more lenient on us. not saying that there may not be negative to it but i havent seen it and i aplaud those who are in the process of implimenting it and ill also like to know when it will be implimented so i can make use of it.

I hope the richer European countries will come to Dominica. You wash my hand and I’ll wash yours. It should be a two way street. The little monies we have, when we go to these European countries, we help build their economy. I hope they will come to visit to build our economy also. Already England did not do too much for the English Caribbean countries like the US did for the US Virgin Islands, and France do for the French Caribbean Islands. We just hope is not more exploitation that is coming. When you are small and poor, the rich always try to cook up ways to exploit the poor. Hope it is for the benefit of all and not selling ourselves for the devil in disguise. Keep hope alive.

Dominica will never go forward, the politiontions are uneducated, have no vision. How one can explain to me that members of the UWP said so much about this government, and today they are part of it. How loyal will they be. crazy Tee is another that said so much about the government to day he is one of the biggest fans. Wake up people. But again if you are uneducated then its difficult to get through you. This is why the government is stagnant and the country on a whole. Do you all see republicans being part of the democratic government. hah ha ha

now mayb u dont understand american politics but for ur own bit of info, americans go to the polls and after it all they have 1 president. have u ever heard of republicans and democrats fighting together to bring america down no matter what side the president represent? its time we dominicans forget about politics and party after we elect our government via polls and think of moving dominica to heigher heights and on a wider stage. we are quite fortunate to be between 2 french islands so i think its time we rip the little benefits that may b extended to us for what ever reasons.

All you happy ,that’s a trick,nothing in this life is free.To get that visa they might have to screen you,no privacy.Europe want everybody under their web,probably the visa is a chip.Take your finger print.We struggle so much,why now.The puzzle is falling into place.Christ is coming soon.

i so aggree with you. its time dominicans stop sit on their brain and cut their long tongues which always seems to drive them in trouble. travel, see the world and how difficult things can be elsewhere at the end of it all we can boast our wonderful island and how free and clean we live. lets welcome and enjoy all these opportunities extended to us cuz ther’s always another jealous country outthere waiting to mash things up thinking they deserve it all.

Shy, you make doomdoom seem like a Havard Professor. Can’t stop laughing. But on a serious note, this is seriously a good move. When the visa retsriction was removed for Antigua, Barbados and St.Kitts/Nevis I was really wondering why D/ca was not included. I travelled to France last Christmas because that is where my siblings reside and it really hurt me to have to travel to St. Lucia – LIAT fare, to get a visa just to spend 14 days. It was worth it since I hadn’t seen my sisters in over 3 years. But to me, it was totally unnecessary. And imagine just yesterday, I was thinking, if there was no visa restriction I would so return to France this Christmas. And now I am reading this. Music to my ears. I really hope that it comes through soon.

Europeans are going bankrupt so they want to increase their tourism sector by making it easier for travelers. thats the only reason. when they were thriving, they made it so difficult to enter. Bramm bram as Edo would say too little too late.

People are happy here? I don’t think they realise that the only reason is the current economic climate. They’re basically saying, now that there is no money to make from those countries in the EU they’re finally willing to let us spend huge sums to visit so that the little we have they can take it. It’s all good being able to go if you can afford it. But it is exploitation to those who cannot afford it and jump on the train. Working in those countries is super complex. Even if some people stay, they would find it impossible to get work without documentation. Then some would probably resort to criminal activity. Something they cannot get away with like in the Caribbean. My suggestion is to my people is to be smart in making the decision of going too fast.

It won’t be too expensive if you learn to utilise your resources. Travel to Paris from Guadeloupe or St Maarteen or travel to Holland or Germany, then rent a car and drive across borders to other EU States. The view and scenery is breathtaking, and takes you a tad bit longer but u get to see the places without spending a fortune. Alternatively, buy your self a train pass and “VOILA! Bob is your uncle” no need to complicate yourself and spend all that dough (money)…food cheap and good and wholesome..doh be trying to book in the Ritz….do what most people in the EU does..they footeh themsemselves on train or rent a car and they good to go….

Seriously, good oportunity for our Dominican peopl..hope they make use of the opportunity and behave their back side (some that is).

Actually Guadeloupe and Martinique are not included in the Schengen area – only France in Europe.Dominica already has visa free travel to Guadeloupe and Martinique although the system is quite complicated. However moves are afoot to ease up access to the Guadeloupe and Martinique.

Don’t push it for gwada. The same reason it won’t be for gwada and martinique is for the same reason that it won’t be for the US and also why it was not granted to certain caribbean nations. No need to get all indignant about it, we all know the reason why. No Dominican is going to Lithuania and decide s/he not coming back, and that they will just stay there without papers. let’s get real.

Excellent move,Great opportunity for Domincans to migrate and provide clear reasons for our DFP[infiltrate DLP Gov’t) to replace them/us with………… fill in the blank hence resulting in re-ekection of the infidels.

You are right, very expernsive but desperate people will find the means. No visa required but we will still be interviewed in a separate line for non- E.U. citizens and asked to show that we have a return ticket, a place to stay and means of support.

Travelers from Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago are expected to benefit from this policy.

Other countries benefiting from that move are Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, and Timor Leste.
They did not mention Martinique or Guadeloup so they are obviously not included.

Yes my people!!!!! Wow, that would be a fabulous development for Dominica as it should mean that we can finally travel to our neighbouring islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe without too much hassle. I would expect that to be the case as they are ‘DEPARTMENTS’ of France and so benefit from the rules governing the European Union. Let us just hope that this improves relations with these islands and that we do not have to face discriminatory behaviour from any of their authorities. I do hope that it will improve the ability on their part to keep track of any person or persons who travel to their territories to commit crime! Thank God for this development and may it be for the best on all sides. Blessings……. (Surely, Skeritt and company are not going to start blowing trumpets and claiming credit for this one, are they?????) Lol

YOU DAT SORT OR BETTER STILL YOU ARE A SOR SORT meaning you double stupid

oh watch your spelling really really poor indeed

but as DNO WOULD WISH LET ME EDUCATE YOU

both MARTNIQUE amd GUADELOUPE are departments of France and hence visa shall not be needed by us Dominicans and other qualifying nationals to enter these two countries and others listed ok and its for a period of 90 days etc

you see who is the real MORON NOW

Like or Dislike: 00JoeNovember 9, 2012

Currently we can stay up to 15 days in Gwada and Martinique without requiring a visa.

I guess the 90 days will now be in effect instead of 15 days.

So where is Thomson to explain to us why, Antigua, Jamaica and all the others who do not “Sell Passports” are not included on this list??

I am so happy next year i planned to go London whilst am there i will visit my cousins in France and my friends in Germany. I always wanted to visit Norway, my sister used to work there and always brag about it, and Portugal, my friend Maria lives there, so they may see me too.

Is that a special Skerrit negotiated deal or a move by the European Union to boost Tourism? some of you are so damn simple it’s downright disturbing. You would benefit from reading the full disclosure article before bestowing praises on Skerrit. You really need to thank the decent Dominicans who have lived and worked in these European countries and maintained clean record for this benefit to all others. I hope our people will embrace this travel and not engage in criminal activities that will get us banned.

Like or Dislike: 00yesNovember 9, 2012

Antigua sell passports too, stop being biased and fool people, I live in Antigua and I know it for a fact. Dont be little Dominica or put us in the bad books for wrong doings

Like or Dislike: 00100%November 9, 2012

@ Joe. Looking for attention?????????

Is Thompson the one who came on to break this news? So why should he have to explain any ‘ish’ to u?

Smarty pants, “Are Guadeloupe and Martinique in the contingent EU?”

It’s either some Dominicans (I am Dominican)read what they want to see or they just don’t understand simple language.

Like or Dislike: 00da chick overseasNovember 9, 2012

Amen..i live in london n its a long story 2get visa 2go just france..yess!! I no longer hve 2hold bk my kids n husband cus they wanted 2go n i couldnt…nw all of us LEGALLLLL

Please note, this does not mean that you will not be subject to immigration checks when travelling from the U.K. to France on a Dominican passport. You will still have to present yourself at a desk for non-E.U. citizens for questioning. All this means is that you do not need to apply for a visa in advance but all the other restrictions remain in place.

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